US Freezes Funding for Palestinian Authority’s Security Forces

The Trump administration has made the decision to halt all funding for the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) security forces, as part of its broader aid cuts, according to a report by The Washington Post. This freeze comes at a time when violence and terror activity in the West Bank have surged to levels reminiscent of the Second Intifada, as reported by Israeli media portals.

During the first term of Trump’s presidency, the US had already suspended most direct aid to the PA, except for funds directed towards security force training and reform. The US provided training through the Jerusalem-based Office of the Security Coordinator, a collaborative initiative supported by the US and other countries.

Palestinian officials, including Brig.-Gen. Anwar Rajab, the spokesman for the PA’s security forces, confirmed that the US had been a significant donor, contributing to various PA projects, including critical security and empowerment training.

While the freeze has affected funding, Israeli officials pointed out that the Office of the Security Coordinator was not significantly impacted by the aid cuts, as other donors have stepped in to fill the gap.

However, the freeze has had noticeable effects on the PA’s training capabilities. A PA colonel, overseeing training at the Central Training Institute, revealed that US funding for a virtual shooting range—needed due to restrictions on live-fire training in the West Bank—was halted. The virtual range was near completion when the freeze took effect, and the PA is now seeking alternative funding sources for the project.

Additionally, a planned meeting between the US and PA security forces to discuss counterterrorism operations in Jenin was postponed, with no rescheduled date as of yet.